Code of Ethics and Conduct of Bifröst University

Bifröst is a community of students, teachers and other staff at the University of Bifröst. Community members are required to show respect, integrity and fairness in their conduct, studies and work. Each member of the community has the primary obligation of preventing any form of injustice, such as bullying, violence, sexual harassment or discrimination based on gender, disability, age, religion, opinions, ethnicity, race, sexuality or any other discriminatory viewpoints.

General issues relating to life, work and studies in the academic community:

1. All members of the academic community are required to defend the reputation of the University and to refrain from any actions which could have the effect of undermining the public perception of the University. Everyone should make every effort to ensure the adherence of the University to its role and compliance with this Code of Ethics and Conduct.

2. The staff and students are free to engage in objective criticism of the policy and procedures of the University.

3. Teachers, other staff and students will endeavour to promote free and balanced exchanges of views within the University and in the community. Members of the community who participate in the public discourse or are involved in social issues or politics do so in accordance with their own convictions, but should also bear in mind their responsibility as members of the academic community.

4. Members of the academic community shall, in a responsible manner, consider the consequences of their work and actions for the community, environment and nature.

5. Staff and students will show each other respect in their demeanour, speech and writing. They will work together with integrity and avoid any interference with their work arising from personal relations or interests.

6. The staff will show students and colleagues respect as individuals and exhibit discretion as regards any information concerning their personal affairs and the personal affairs of any third party. The staff will exercise caution wherever and whenever the affairs of students or their colleagues are discussed.

7. The staff and students will not discriminate against each other, e.g. on the basis of gender, disability, age, religion, views, ethnic background, race or sexuality.

8. The members of the academic community will not bully or sexually harass one another.

9. If a member of the community is a witness to discrimination, violence, sexual harassment or bullying it is his or her duty to notify the University administration.

General points on teaching, research and studies:

1. Teachers, researchers and students will pursue knowledge with integrity and objectivity. They will emphasise a professional work ethic, critical thinking and objective reasoning.

2. Teachers, researchers and students will always work in accordance with their own conviction, regardless of the identity of the party sponsoring or paying for the work. All interests, if any, must be disclosed.

3. Teachers, researchers and students will not present other people’s intellectual property as their own. Copyright will be respected at all times and all sources cited, all in compliance with accepted academic procedures.

4. Teachers, researchers and students will be critical of themselves and precise in their work. They will not falsify or distort information, data or conclusions of studies and avoid any mistakes and errors. If they transgress in this regard, they will admit their error and do what is needed to make amends.

5. Teachers will disclose any relations with students that could disqualify them from making decisions concerning assessment of performance or other relevant issues.

Specific provisions on teachers and teaching:

1. Teachers will contribute to the education of their students through enlightened guidance, appropriate professional requirements, encouragement and good example. They will conduct their teaching, guidance and training in compliance with the rules on teaching and examinations established by the University.

2. Teachers will respect the rights of their students and work with their interests at heart.

3. Teachers will make reasonable demands on students and show care in evaluating their work. If there is any suspicion of any misconduct, the issue must be pursued in accordance with University rules.

4. Teachers will inform their students in good time of the requirements that they or the University will make of them. They will honour their commitments to students and return their grades and assignments within the deadlines set in the University rules.

5. Teachers are conscious of their position as instructors and role models and will not abuse this role in relations with students.

Specific provisions on research and researchers:

1. The University, Board of Governors, management and staff will respect the full rights of researchers to freedom of research and expression.
2. Staff engaging in research and scholarly work are required to maintain their academic skills and to disseminate their knowledge. In this way they will contribute to progress in their fields of study.

3. Members of the community who engage in research will respect and award recognition to each other’s contributions to research. They will not themselves take credit for their students’ ideas and will always cite students’ contributions to their research.

4. All research conducted at Bifröst will at all times respect the rights of the participants in the research and ensure that their interests enjoy full protection.

5. Teachers, researchers and, as applicable, students will disclose their findings publicly. They will disclose them in their own names as scholars affiliated with the University or in the name of research institutes within the University. No one will express the views of the University of Bifröst except the Board of Governors of the University, the Education and Research Council, the University Council and the Rector.

6. Researchers employed by the University will respect the moral rights of the University and refer to their affiliation with the University when publishing research conducted during their working hours.

Specific provisions on students and studies:

1. Students will respect their teachers, other staff and their peers as individuals and show them consideration, courtesy and respect.

2. Students will complete their assignments, essays and examinations with integrity and encourage their peers to do the same.

3. Students will always use the proper data in their applications, such as the correct certificates, transcripts or recommendations relating to their studies or work.

Specific provisions on staff and services:

1. Members of staff will at all times provide students and colleagues with information that concerns them to the best of their knowledge and ensure that such information is as correct as possible. Members of staff will not say more than their knowledge warrants at any time and will admit when their knowledge is limited and obtain further information or refer questions to an appropriate party.

2. Members of staff will maintain good relations with students, colleagues and others who require their services by showing them courtesy and fairness.

3. Staff and students will take good care of the property of the University that is entrusted to them or that they have at their disposal for their work or studies. These amenities will not be used for private interests.

Organisation, sanctions and available recourses:

1. An independent Ethics Committee is appointed at Bifröst to determine whether rules of ethics have been breached. The Ethics Committee is elected by the University Council and composed of one representative of the staff, one representative of the students and one member appointed by the Rector. The member appointed by the Rector will be a member of the Faculty of Law.

2. The Committee will address suggestions and complaints from parties inside and outside the University. The Committee has jurisdiction over staff and students and their actions within the University community, both on campus and off campus. The Committee will not open cases on its own initiative.

3. In the course of process the Committee will observe the principles of administrative law concerning gathering of information, proportionality and the right of representation.

4. All rulings of the Committee will be reasoned and free of any uncertainty as to whether the Code of Ethics has been violated or not.

5. Violation of the Code of Ethics is subject to admonition in the first instance, but can also be subject to dismissal or loss of employment in the event of repeated or serious transgressions.

6. The Committee will not decide on the sanctions for violation. This is the domain of the Faculty Deans, the Rector or the University Council, according to the University Regulation.

Preparation and entry into force:

1. In the preparation of the Code of Ethics and Conduct of Bifröst University similar rules of various universities were used as models, both domestic and foreign universities. Special account was taken of the Codes of Ethics and Conduct of the University of Iceland and the University of Reykjavík.

2. This Code of Ethics and Conduct will enter into force on its confirmation by the University of Iceland and the publication by the Rector of the approval.

3. This Code of Ethics and Conduct is presented to all new employees and students. It will also be made available on the University website.